Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill to Restrict Food Stamp Purchases of Sodas
Efforts to ban the use of food stamps for purchasing sodas have been halted in Arizona, following a recent veto by Governor Katie Hobbs. The proposed legislation, House Bill 2165, aimed to improve public health by eliminating sodas from the list of items that could be bought with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Governor Hobbs acknowledged the health-conscious intent of the bill but argued that the measure would unnecessarily limit the purchasing freedom of SNAP participants. “This legislation unnecessarily deprives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants of their purchasing power and relegates them to a new underclass of grocery shoppers,” Hobbs stated in her veto message.
Hobbs, who has personal experience as a former food stamp recipient, suggested that lawmakers should focus on increasing access to fresh foods rather than imposing restrictions on purchases. The veto occurred despite support from Republican lawmakers and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the head of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, who visited Phoenix to advocate for healthier eating initiatives.
While the bill to ban sodas was vetoed, Governor Hobbs did sign a separate measure that prohibits certain artificial dyes and chemicals in school meals. This measure, which received unanimous legislative support, applies to both school lunches and vending machine offerings, with exceptions for after-school events.
The soda ban, proposed by Rep. Leo Biasiucci, faced partisan division, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats opposing it. Biasiucci argued that sodas lack nutritional value, which contradicted the purpose of SNAP as “nutritional assistance.” Meanwhile, Sen. Analise Ortiz expressed concerns that the bill represented a broader attempt to regulate the diets of food stamp recipients, suggesting it could lead to future restrictions on other food items.
Ortiz highlighted that the original bill also aimed to ban candies and sweets from being purchased with food stamps, but Biasiucci removed these items due to difficulties in defining them legally and distinguishing them from products like protein bars.
Despite the veto, the discussion around food stamp reform continues at the national level. Brooke Rollins, the newly confirmed chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has expressed interest in reforming the list of items eligible for purchase with food stamps. Rollins plans to collaborate with Kennedy on these reforms.
Kennedy, who supports the idea of banning sodas, described the initiative as a necessary starting point in a larger effort to address processed food consumption. “Believe me, I would like to stop the entire processed food program,” Kennedy remarked, indicating that changes won’t happen overnight but must begin somewhere.
The debate over food stamp purchases and nutritional assistance remains ongoing, with further discussions expected to unfold on a national scale.
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